eldred



l. V. ELDRED LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7. 191?.

1 307,395. Patented June 24, 1919.

IRMA v. ELDRED, or oosMoroLIs, wasnmepron.

i LOCK."

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented 11116 24, 1919.

Application filed July 7, 1917. Serial No. 179,262.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRMA V. ELDRED, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cosmop olis, in the county of Grays Harbor, State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvement in locks and has for an object to provide a lock which will embody the desired features of simplicity and durability, is convenient of manipulation, efficient in operation and furthermore may be manufactured and marketed at a relatively low cost.

With the above and other objects of similar nature in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved lock illustrating its use.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the latch element of the lock.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view.

Fig. 1 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with one of the casing plates removed and the latch members in released position, and

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the latch elements.

Referrin now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the improved lock consists of a casing 5 which is composed of a pair of plates 6 and 7 respectively, arranged in spaced parallel relation and so held by means of rivets 8. The plate 6 is preferably of greater dimensions than the plate 7 and is provided with a plurality of screw openings 9 to facilitate its attachment while one of its edge portions is directed angularly as at 10 and also provided with screw openings 11.

Mounted between the plates 6 and having corresponding ends pivoted as at 12 to the rivets 8 is a pair of latch members 13, the free ends of which are bent outwardly at substantially right angles as at 14 and pro vided with extensions 15 projecting laterally beyond the plate 7 and terminating in opposed angular projections 16 arranged in spaced parallel relation to the said plate and held normally in contact as will presently appear. In order to maintain the latch members yieldably in their normal position there is interposed between the plates 6 and'7 a circularly bowed spring 17 provided centrally of its bight portion with a projection 18 that is passed through the plate 6 and suitably riveted.

This spring is so arranged as to embrace the latch members 13 with its ends in contact therewith and serves by its contractile tendency to urge said members toward each other as will be readily understood.

There is further embodied in the look, a keeper 19 also provided with screw receiving openings and having at one end an oii'set triangular or spear shaped head 20 which is adapted to enter the space 21 provided between the plate 7 and the laterally extended ends of the latch members 13, said members spreading to permit the passage. of the head therebetween and returning under the influence of the spring 17 behind the shoulders 22 of said head.

The elements of the lock are thus positively held in assembled relation while to disconnect the same there is provided in the plate 7 a slot 23 and carried by the plate 6 a key post 24 in alinement with said slot, a key 25 as shown in Fig. 4 being engaged through the slot 23 and on the said post and having lateral wings 26 which serve to engage and spread the latch members so that the head of the keeper may be readily withdrawn from contact therewith.

It is evident from the foregoing that an extremely simple and inexpensive lock has been provided and one which will effectively serve the purposes for which it is designed.

What I claim is 1. A look comprising a casing, a pair of latch members pivoted at one end within the casing and projecting at their opposite ends from the casing, the projecting ends having portions extending beyond the outer face of the casing'that is parallel to the plane of pivotal movement of the latch members and then toward each other to receive and hold a keeper between the portions that project toward each other and the adjacent portion of the casing, and means for holding the latch members yieldably in their keeper engaging relation.

2. A look comprising a casing having an open end, a pair of latch members each pivoted at one end within the casing for movement towardand away from each other and having their opposite end portions projectlng through the open end of the casing and extending exterlor to the casing at right angles to the plane of pivotal movement of them toward each other, the remaining portion of the spring plate encircling and lying exterior toa portion of the casing.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

IRMA V. ELDRED;

Witnesses MYRTLE H. (1001115, MAY B. MURPHY.

10 with the latch members in position to urge Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 6. 5 

